Stefano Manzi has achieved his lifelong dream, claiming the 2025 FIM Supersport World Championship title. The Italian ace, riding for the legendary Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing team, secured the coveted crown with a superb victory in Race 2 at the EICMA Estoril Round in Portugal. This triumphant win, which was Manzi’s 10th victory of the season, wrapped up the championship with two races still remaining in the 2025 calendar.
This championship victory is a landmark moment, not just for the rider, but for the entire Yamaha WorldSSP project, as it marks a spectacular debut season for the all-new Yamaha YZF-R9.
Race 2 at Estoril: The Championship Decider
The Circuito do Estoril hosted the penultimate round (Round 11) of the 2025 WorldSSP season, where Manzi arrived with a commanding lead over his main rival, Can Öncü (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team). The championship mathematics dictated that a victory in Race 2 would be enough for Manzi, regardless of his rival’s result.
In a race defined by intense early battles and a display of flawless race craft, Manzi, starting from a slightly disadvantaged grid position (13th in Race 1, but with a better start in Race 2), quickly elevated himself into the lead group. While the initial laps saw a tussle between several frontrunners, including Öncü, Roberto Garcia, and Valentin Debise, Manzi methodically worked his way to the sharp end.
Around the two-thirds distance mark (specifically, on lap 16 of 18), Manzi made his decisive move, passing early leader Debise and immediately putting his head down to open a gap. As the pressure intensified, Debise was forced to retire due to a technical issue, while Öncü slipped down the order after running wide, eventually finishing 9th. Manzi sailed home to an emphatic victory with a margin of 2.599 seconds, confirming himself as the 2025 World Supersport Champion.
The podium was completed by Philipp Öettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) in second, and a sensational recovery ride from rookie Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) who finished third after starting from an incredible 25th position—marking the lowest-ever starting position for a podium finisher in the category’s history.
Manzi’s Path to WorldSSP Glory: King of Consistency
For Stefano Manzi, the 2025 title is the culmination of a three-year project with Ten Kate Racing and Yamaha, finally overcoming the heart-wrenching second-place finishes of the two previous seasons (2023 and 2024).
The 26-year-old Italian built his championship on an unparalleled foundation of consistency and sheer winning pace:
- Dominant Stats: Manzi’s 2025 campaign included 10 victories and an impressive 18 podium finishes across the rounds leading up to Estoril. His points tally of 425 points solidified his dominance over runner-up Can Öncü (343 points).
- The Yamaha R9 Debut: Manzi was instrumental in the immediate success of Yamaha’s new machine, the YZF-R9, which replaced the legendary YZF-R6 for the Next Generation WorldSSP ruleset. Manzi won the R9’s debut race in the season opener at Phillip Island, setting the tone for a remarkable year.
- Mental Fortitude: After back-to-back runner-up seasons, Manzi credited a renewed mental focus for his 2025 success. Speaking after the race, he mentioned that a tricky period midway through the season, which included crashes at Most and Misano, served as a “wake-up call” that helped him re-focus and avoid repeating mistakes, ensuring he stayed in control of the title fight.
The title also secures a magnificent piece of history for the Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing team, adding another WorldSSP title to their vast collection, and continuing the team’s legacy as one of the most successful outfits in the paddock.
The Rise of the Yamaha R9
Manzi’s Riders’ Championship triumph completes a historic triple-crown objective for Yamaha in the World Supersport class, having already secured the Manufacturers’ Championship crown with the new Yamaha R9 several rounds prior.
The YZF-R9, with its powerful CP3 (Crossplane Concept three-cylinder) engine, has proven to be a sensational competitor in its debut year, successfully taking over from the iconic YZF-R6. The R9 immediately established itself as the bike to beat, showcasing the immense potential of Yamaha’s new “Next Generation” approach. The combined efforts of Manzi and his rival Öncü delivered 14 victories for Yamaha throughout the season, cementing the R9’s legacy in just its first year of competition.
Future Secured: The WorldSBK Dream
With the 2025 WorldSSP Championship now secured, the next challenge awaits Manzi. The Rimini-born rider has already been announced to move up to the premier class, the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), in 2026. He will join the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team, following in the footsteps of other former Yamaha WorldSSP Champions like Andrea Locatelli and Dominique Aegerter. His promotion highlights Yamaha’s commitment to developing and promoting talent through its racing ladder, with Manzi now ready to test his skills against the world’s best production-based racers.
Source
Official WorldSBK Website (Title Secured & Season Review)
- WorldSBK: TITLE SECURED: Manzi wraps up 2025 WorldSSP Championship with Race 2 victory
- WorldSBK: KING OF CONSISTENCY: Manzi secures 2025 WorldSSP crown after stunning season
FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme)
Yamaha Motor Corporation (R9 Debut & Manufacturers’ Title)
Superbike News
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